₦airaland Forum

Eledan: A governor doing business with Microsoft directly shows one thing....transparency and integrity. Microsoft as an organization will not do any business that will taint it reputation.

The governor cannot do business with microsoft except personal business. Microsoft already have a presence in Nigeria.

Well state govt should probe the federal govt for transparency.

What is fashola doing in microsoft HQ? I don't think he is creating jobs. Or is he there to earn a certification or a personal deal?

I'm confused about this. I guess public funds were expended for this trip too.

Okay the thread said - for collaboration in ICT. What kind of collaboration?

Nice chatting with you Prof. I pray something positive can be done about the situation on ground. I also pray your colleagues can read our comments and begin to question themselves. Continue with your hard work, the people whose lives you would impact will never forget.

[quote author=prof.femi]People who do not appreciate the difficulties that stop others from doing something almost always do the same, when they are in the same position. How can you suggest that a lecturer spend his own money to take a whole class out to a lab? Do you have any idea how much money and effort would go into that? I know lecturers who are "stupid" enough to pull stunts like this, but to treat it like an obligation is not right at all, to put it mildly.[/quote]Prof so you follow for this same category. Previously, I will assume that the cost may be outrageous but they take out time to think about it. May not turn out as presumed. But imagine the impact. You can try it out. Well I don't know what you teach. But you seem to have a passion for it.

I have addressed the curriculum issue more than once already. Good lecturers still update their teaching materials and curricula. Poor ones don't. Simple as that.

Thank you. No further question on this. Please tell you colleagues to change.

I also have to cite something important based on world bank research. It has been predicted that the Nigerian middle class will grow by 28% in the coming years. What this implies is that the standard of living for many people (especially working class) will improve and they will have enough money to spend. Also, many middle class Nigerians may not want to send their children to Nigerian public universities and over time, there will be huge decrease in the enrolment of students into Nigerian public schools.

A little something for you to think about Prof. Maybe Govt. will go and drag the students from where they are into public universities.

[quote author=prof.femi]Ha, Boss, don't make me laugh. You say it with such emphasis that one would think you know if for a fact. *Personally*, I have reached out to companies in different ways. I know many others who have done the same. Of course, they didn't bite, and for good reason. For starters:
1. Competition in Nigerian industry has not reached a stage where companies really gain much by innovating (I expect top be called out on this one)
2. Consequent on 1, the companies see nothing I (or others) have to offer them that will affect their bottomline (remember, they are profit-making entities)

Long story short, you actually don't *know* most of what you think you *know* about this system.[/quote]Well why I say a big no is because I am yet to get a proposal on my table from universities and trust me I get loads of proposal. I have designated a whole team to review proposals alone (phewww). Well of course I will turn it down because I don't think they have anything to offer the profit line of my organisation because they are busy going on strike instead of thinking. My opinion may change when I begin to see reasonable and positive change from them. Also, for emotional reasons, I may not turn down my school because it added positively to my life, regardless of that my stupid HOD.

Now you can see what Corporate Nigeria thinks about lecturers. I can tell you foreign companies rarely turn down academics and if they do, they sent a well written apology letter to them. It is good you started this forum, so that you can ascertain the general perception of the public towards you and your colleagues. You can be that change only if you believe.

[quote author=prof.femi]Please lets stick to facts. FG released 30 billion on allowances and told *the whole world* about it. They want the universities to distribute this "up-front" to serve as a poisoned chalice. Although university managements are under intense pressure from other unions to give them their shares, ASUU has rejected such, in no uncertain terms. If you do a simple Google search, you will find reports about ASUU urging Unilorin not to disburse said funds. Lets stick with facts. It helps a lot.[/quote]Prof you have not answered my other questions. I am probably not right about that but please answer my other questions. Should I restate them again?

[quote author=♥Dεs•Chγκσ♥]It's nothing new. God didn't close Hell either inspite of its existence in the Universe he presides over.[/quote]very funny

[quote author=chreld_b]You admit that while in a Nigerian University you never saw a microorganism, and could not appreciate the relevance of biochemical pathways. If the laboratories in your department were relatively well equipped I am sure that you will agree with me that you would have had access to at least a microscope to view any prokaryotic cell available to you. And E.coli would definitely not be an exception due to its abundance.[/quote]I am not denying the fact that our Nigerian universities require funding. It is so visible. However, I am angry with the way it is being handled by ASUU. There are several ways to handle issues. I hate unions. They stink. They only want you to bow to their needs. They are lazy, never do well mindsets. Let us be honest, what has the unions done for this country, what positive change. They are selfish. That is my annoyance.

Have ASUU agreed for a framework to understudy the Nigerian universities. They collected 1 year unpaid allowance and they did not tell the general public about it. What is that telling you. I am sorry I am not address your points directly. Have universities approach Corporate Nigeria to request for financial assistance. BIG NO. For example, I did not see E. Coli (not for 1 day) - What stops my stupid lecturer to take us all out to a Laboratory or Research center and show us these micro-organisms. Will that cost so much? What stop the lecturer from writing to GSK, requesting for fund to purchase a microscope. What stops a lecturer to change his curriculum or update his curriculum - you want to tell me MONEY. ABEG ABEG ABEG, no follow vex me this evening.

For those who will like to understand the nitty-gritty and the steps towards restoring power in Nigeria. Below is the link to Atedo Peterside's report to the Banker's Committee. Very interesting report. Atedo is the Chairman on Privatisation of the Power Sector (I hope I got that title right). He is also the chairman of Stanbic IBTC.

Someone should please develop a thread which should get to front page so that the general public can benefit. I have a meeting to attend.


http://sweetcrudereports.com/2013/10/10/after-privatisation-of-phcn-what-next-by-atedo-peterside/

mapet: Here we go again making insinuations without having gone through the details of the scheme.
1. That they are freeing up the national grid to allow for more power distribution to people of Lagos is in no doubt. It depends on your understanding of the quantum of demand that has been taken off the national grid. Even if its a little, its something to save us of the embarrassment of the power deficit that we have.

Chief, I will not belittle myself to exchange words with you. Those were my opinion. We know the propaganda politicians disseminate to media houses. I do not get carried away with politician trying to get popular with the public. I quantify the effect of any project to the lives of people. I can spend N30billion but how many lives will the money change positively or improve. I believe the government did not prioritise their project development plan properly. That money will have solve better problems and impact positively on lives than providing the same need a generator will do. Remember, Oando will continue to supply gas and that is recurrent expenditure. Almost the same as buying diesel for your generator. So what is the justification to spend N3.2bn - just to get LASG secretariat off the National Grid - Please read that again.

Misplaced priorities as usual. Also, let me ask you this big question - LASG spent N3.2bn - DID YOU FEEL ANY POSITIVE IMPACT IN YOUR LIFE FROM THAT EXPENDITURE? IF YOU DON'T, THEN WHY ARE YOU HAPPY THAT THEY SPENT N3.2BIlLION?

Omooba77: Please can you post the link to Atedo's power break down to bankers' committee.....

I read it on Businessday (hard copy). I will try to search for it online. It opened my eyes on the power sector. I used to be confused about DISCO, GENCOS and TCN. Now I understand better. Honestly, the journey is very far according to his report but it has started. I like Atedo, he does not minced words. Once I get the report, I will publish it.

I think it should be on front page to enable people understand how the power sector is divided out.

[quote author=chreld_b][/quote]please pardon my blunders. I was very emotional typing and never bothered to edit.

@ Prof I will not deny the fact that our universities need funding. I will not also deny the fact that the government has abandoned education. My first concern is that these monies, when disbursed, will not be used for the same reason the strike action is being held. My other concern is that you and your colleagues are intellectuals (I think so) and you have admitted that funding is your problem. Let us be honest, government cannot do everything alone, I am getting so tired of all of us pushing our responsibilities to government. True, government has neglected the universities but universities cannot only rely on government alone for its funding. Heck... I remember my finance faculty have funding issues, it became a project to raise money and it was fun because what we are being taught is to be implemented. Guess what we raised more than we require and how? by sending out proposal to companies and following up with physical visitation.

Since funding is your problem, determine your funding needs and the projects you need to implement in your university. Prepare a proposal to companies and rich alumni requesting for funds. For christ sake, you are a not-for-profit organisation and that is what NFPs do. Now Prof, you can see that there are several ways to resolve a problem and when you restrict yourself to ONLY ONE WAY, it makes you appear stupid. A big reason you colleagues need to update themselves.

Also, inform your colleagues that the Nigerian public is not as ignorant as they assume.

@Prof well I can seemly believe you because of your effort on this public forum. While many of your colleagues are at home, you have taken out time to carry us along. However, please note that I am not happy with you and your colleagues and you do not deserve to call a strike when your hands are dirty.

I passed through a Nigerian university without grounding myself on the basics on health science. I never saw an E.coli but read about it alot. I can virtually describe glycolysis to you without knowing the impact. I went through hell from lecturers who were not there to assist me. I was personally victimised by a HOD who gave verbal instruction to reduce my score from A to E because we had an issue over departmental finances and this was after I have paid the money. My script was not marked, he literally threw away my scripted and told me I will never graduate. Thank God I finally graduated without any carry overs and one of the best in my graduating class.

In my 3rd year, I made up my mind to abandon the field to finance. I am very glad I did. My experience with universities abroad sent a cold fever to me. I was strange to the care that lecturers show to their student and the knowledge I obtained and I wanted to learn more. The teaching technique was just too relevant to the happenings of the world. Curriculum was adjusted to address pertinent issues currently happening. Workshops were organised and world business leaders were recruited to come speak with to us.

Now prof your prayer is that I do not gain public office that will have anything to do with universities because believe me it will not be funny and I am not joking. Jonathan is kind with ASUU nonsense. Me I will revolutionised the system and where your colleagues will not work I will sack them, increase the salary and recruit the 1st class students to take up their jobs. Guess what, I will put the military at university gates to frown very hard. I am angry with you and your ASUU colleagues. I personally do not know you. You may be nice, however do not see my emotional outburst as prejudice to you or your colleagues. The excesses of lecturers are too much to keep mute about. They are a pain to students on a regular day and yet are causing more pains again with this strike.

I thought the man did a good write up, only for me to read the nonsense. He is writing against the same reason he benefitted from. He got a job via an award. Does he know how many youth service corps member have awards and were not given a job. He got the job because he was a northerner and probably above the average northerner. He should know that in a free and fair competitive nation, northerners won't gain access into public office because the south is well advance ahead of them. He should also know that the south is highly competitive and that is a reason why I frown at a northern child scoring just 2 marks and gaining admission into secondary school.

Please he should get out of our sight and never to be heard of again.

yes she should be sacked

ok very good.

@Prof I think you did not answer my question properly. The only thing I can take out of this and the strike your colleagues have embarked on is that you and them need more money - Yes. Have your colleagues told the general public what the money will be used for? They attribute it to infrastructures. Infrastructures can be building extra classrooms and hotels. Your colleagues claim to be academics but have failed to inform the general public via printed publications their basic reason for the strike and highlighting remedies.

Since ASUU is claiming that the Govt. is the reason why our universities are in shambles, I will also tell you that the reason why our economy is not growing exponentially is because you and your colleagues are not thinking. We have local problems/issues and our academics are saying if you want me to solve these problems give me money (true or false/).

You have also failed to explain why lecturers still teach from outdated curriculum and never try to update themselves with recent happenings or adapt to the ever changing world of today. You have also failed to explain why ill-equipped lecturers are hostile to students and molest their students. You have also failed to say what lecturers are doing to curb cultism that is robbing us of talented youths.

Now why should I believe you that once these monies have been disbursed, that you and your colleagues will implement whatever so called reasons that have warranted for this strike action.

ayodeji752: Asari Dokubo dropped out of unical and rivers state university. A dropped out is now establishing a university. These guys are rendering university degree useless

The university is in Benin republic

Kingspin: The decay in our education is beyond the issue of bring money. The same challenge in the educational sector is also found in power, oil, football etc, it all a National problem. So to start getting it right attitudinal change, obedient to rule of law need to get involve, our people need to be re-oriented positively. Than for our education sector the foundation which is at the primay and secondary school level need to get it right 100% than shall the universities graduate or produce the a quality graduate. Good input (basic) good output (university). We need to go back to the basic levels of education. The type of university graduate we have today could be trace to the qualities of our primay and seconday school. We should to do more at the basic level than shall the quality of the output (graduate) is guarantee.

Thank you. Nigeria needs a total overhaul. If the government pumps more money, I don't think these ASUU guys would know what to do with it. Again, the government do not monitor any of its projects. Let me refrain from accusing the government because I do not know what they pass through in that office. However, I just want my government to be more transparent

For the first time in a long while I am interested in Nigeria football again. Thanks to Keshi. I hear the match won't be broadcast live, that is sad.

cowleg: [size=30pt]PRIVATE UNIVERSITIES ARE FUNDED THROUGH A HEAVY TUITION FEES, WHY ARE THEY NOT YET LIKE AMERICAN OR GHANAIAN UNIVERSITIES??[/size]

It is the same lecturers teaching in public universities that are teaching in private universities.

lorretta u: Nigeria might as well follow suit and shut down her govt. Like US did

Everyone is on strike!
Who's left?
Anyway me too I'm on strike.
Junior! Mom! Dad!. No food today. Strike things.I ain't going into that kitchen

If Junior flog you.

Lastly, i think the current university students are also at fault in this matter...Please, i m not trying to be holistic cos i was once a student and i was once guilty of what i am about to point out....For heaven's state, This is our future!!!!!The government/politicians will keep toying with ASUU and vis a vis the students cos none of them have children in naijaa. The few who have put their children in private universities... What is NANS doing??If the NANS executives and most students were deeply affected and serious, they wouldav called the attention of the world to the going-on's in our educational system. Anonymously invite Aljazreera and other popular 'media' to take a look at the current situation and make a documentary on it..There is nothing our FG hates more than international embarrassments...By now, students should have 'gingered', organised themselves and matched onwards to Abuja and then to Aso rock/national assembly and camp there...NANS/SUG are rich enough to afford this else what do they use the SUG levy for?By the time the whole world sees more than 100,000 students shouting/protesting, something would at least be done in helping to ameliorate the sufferings of my fellow brothers.

This is nice but nigerian students should not only fight the government, they should fight their teachers too. The nonsense must stop. I have been privileged to study in this country and abroad and what we have here in terms of attitude of lecturers is something to beat someone mercilessly for. A little reason I feel no sympathy for these ASUU greeds.

@prof I just checked and I noticed you are still responding to this thread. I want to spare a few of my official/management time to engage you and I also hope some of your members (ASUU) are here to read too.

You have quite mentioned that tertiary education is expensive - That is a fact. However, we know that our entire educational system is in shambles and needs a thorough restructuring. Why is ASUU is so concerned about their unpaid earned allowances than repositioning the tertiary institution in the country

Question 2 - The success of every economy lies on the strength of its education. We have so many problems/issues (economic, social, financial and otherwise). Why can't our universities develop solutions to these our problems?

Question 3 - You claim that the main reason for the strike is provision of infrastructure in tertiary institution - Why kind of infrastructure are you talking about?

Question 4 - We have encountered, witnessed, listen and read about unruly behaviours of lecturers/teachers - What is the true role of lecturers in tertiary universities? Who should held accountable for these nonsense ill-behaved lecturers? What is the role of the Nigerian University Commission (NUC)?

Prof while addressing my questions, I can see some important comments/questions raised above. Also, address them.

My opinion on this is mixed. Maybe the state government intends to reduce it cost for running generators, which I consider to be good. However, I feel this is a gorrilla project undertaken by the state government. They psyched the general public by saying they are freeing the national grid to allow for more power to be distributed to the state (and I don't support that) because it is not realistic. Power supply has gone down drastically recently. If a state government intends to embark on a project such project should have massive improvement on the lives of its people and not secluded to certain section. I just finished reading Atedo's Peterside publication to the Bankers' Committee on power and he really broke down the progress being achieved in power restoration in the country. It is a long race but if all parties stick to the deal it will all come well.

Now with that said, it can also assumed that the state government may return back to the national grid once power is fully restored in the country. Now what is going to happen to the 3.2billion already expended on this project. Also, we should note that this is a secretariat for civil service, expect that the secretariat can recover the money spent plus interest, then it is not a viable project but a waste of public fund. I can support IPPs for public hospitals to support health care but I cannot support this because it does not affect 98% of the population in Lagos. My humble opinion.

DMainMan: @abusumaya. Tks I wont join. Will manage d little business i am doing now and hope for d best.

I nod my head in negation. Religion truly has an effect on people. I copied this somewhere and I don't know if it would help. I will not explain it anyways but if you do understand it then it is good for you.

"One day, one of his disciples came to the Lord Buddha and said, ‘Lord, whom shall I believe? One man tells me this and another that, and both seem sure they are right.’ The Lord Buddha replied, ‘My son, believe not that which any man saith, not even I, unless it appeals to your common sense. And even then do not believe it, but treat it as a reasonable hypothesis until you can prove it for yourself."

@OP I understand your plight having studied a little bit about Islamic Banking/finance. However, conventional banking is not all about charging interest too. You can be designated to a department that has nothing to do with issuing loans. I have so many muslim (hard core) friends in the banking sector and some are fantastic credit advisers. Honestly, you need to provide for yourself and for the family you intend to raise. I cannot convince you otherwise about your religion cos I know how dear it is to you. However, you need that job than you realize. Your masters can wait or you can take up a part-time masters programme.

Since you may not like the banking industry, have a goal (personal and financial goal) and work towards it. I believe the job will assist you to achieve that goal. For now you are idle and that is bad for the brain.

Demdem:
Fool, as at last week when u alleged that ASUU was given 30billion naira directly to share, it was proven that u lied. Instead, universities were given the money and because if bereaucracy, the money was yet to be paid.
Good to know they have started receiving it.

Fool, my second question still pending. How many years is the govt still owning them?

No need for the name calling. I remember him sharing the information to us. This is the reason why many of us come to nairaland to get first hand information before the general public.

Don Magic Juan: FG should not only stop their salaries but also evict any occupying staff quarters and also give them 30 days ultimatum to return back to work or get the sack.

Enuff is enuff!

After 2015

A son I should be proud of fathering.